Business News of Friday, 9 February 2007

Source: GNA

GSB certifies Coca-Cola Bottling Company

Kumasi, Feb. 9, GNA - The Ghana Standards Board (GSB) has awarded the Coca-Cola Bottling Company in Kumasi with a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) certificate confirming the company's ability to meet all food safety requirements in its operations.

Speaking at a ceremony in Kumasi on Friday to award the certificate, Mr Kwamena Van-Ess, Deputy Chief Executive of GSB, said HACCP is an internationally recognise food safety and risk management tool adopted by the Board to ensure quality assurance of foods. He said the increasing demand for safe and quality assured foods by consumers worldwide triggered by a high incidence of illnesses arising from unsafe foods, the GSB aimed at implementing the appropriate regulatory measures to achieve the highest standard of safety, efficacy and quality not only in the food industry but also in all industries that produce consumer goods.

Mr Van-Ess commended the Coca-Cola Company for submitting itself to be assisted by the GSB for the installation of HACCP system in the company to ensure high quality standards.

Earlier in a welcoming address read on his behalf, Mr Segun Ogunsanya, Chief Executive Officer and General Manager of the company said quality assurance remained the most important part of the company's operation because of its direct bearing on the health of its numerous consumers.

He pledged the workers' commitment to work still harder despite the achievement, adding, 93Quality assurance is to us a journey and not a destination".